Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Mother’s Day may be over for the year, but the moms in our lives (including ourselves) deserve recognition year-round for all they do for their families. I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul’s newest collection of stories about wonderful mothers: Thanks to My Mom! Read on to learn more about this inspirational book, and be sure to pick up a copy for all the special women you know.

When was the last time you thanked your mom for all her hard work? And do you sometimes wonder if your own parenting efforts are making a difference? Jo Dee Messina knows exactly what that’s like: “We women tend to be self-deprecating. We wonder if we are ‘enough.’” In fact, the lyrics to Jo Dee’s song, “Me,” which talks about how mothers sometimes wonder if they are “enough,” are included in the book, along with a link to a performance of the song by Jo Dee.

Mothers need to know they are appreciated, that they make a difference, and that their children view them as role models. And that’s just what this collection of entertaining, heartwarming stories accomplishes. It’s a gigantic “Thank You” to mothers of all ages, and a confidence booster for moms who are still in the trenches raising their kids. Whether you’re 16 or 60, this is a great way to let your mother, your stepmother, your mother-in-law, and any other mom in your life know that she did a great job and that you love her. She’ll laugh out loud, she’ll nod her head in recognition, and she may even tear up a few times as she reads the 101 personal stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks to My Mom.

Jo Dee Messina tells a story about her biggest, most supportive fan -- her mom. From her first day of kindergarten to her first national tour to her new role as a working mother, Jo Dee’s mom has always been there for her, saying, “Remember, there is a string that goes between your heart and mine. Even when you think you’re far away. Our hearts are joined together, always.”

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks to My Mom shares stories about every aspect of motherhood. You’ll chuckle over moms who make waves, like the one who wheedles her way onto a secured Navy airbase just to deliver cookies to her son. You’ll laugh about moms getting into the kind of trouble their kids used to get into, like the one who snuck into a tattoo parlor to see if they could remove the Sharpie cat whiskers on her face. And you’ll be impressed by the moms whose lessons about integrity, fair play, respect and compassion are still guiding their grown children’s lives. What will strike you the most is the lasting impact that mothers have on their kids, proving that all that hard work does indeed pay off!

GIVEAWAY

Three lucky winners will receive a paperback copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks to My Mom! Enter through the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and ends at 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.